Students entering military supported with cords by Blissfield mom

Monday

BLISSFIELD — A movement for recognition or change sometimes starts with an idea.

For Amy Hayford of Blissfield, “Cords Across America” started with a simple observation.

Hayford started a red, white and blue cord distribution organization for students entering military service after high school or college graduation.

When Hayford’s daughter, Savannah Miller, graduated in 2015 from an Ohio high school, Miller wore a similar cord showing her intent and pride to serve her country.

“It meant a lot to her as a military enlistee to have that cord as part of her graduation,” Hayford said. “I then thought, how many other schools allow that (accessory) to happen?”

At Blissfield Community Schools, Hayford said, she found the school’s policy did not allow any other cords other than for school honors.

“I felt the kids entering the military are sacrificing, and deserve public recognition,” Hayford said.

Hayford said the Blissfield Board of Education allowed the extra cord, and from there the idea of providing the accessory spread to other schools across the region.

“I said to myself, ‘I am going to email 75 schools to see how many would like the cords and start a nonprofit where the students can be recognized for their upcoming service,’ “ Hayford said.

Out of the 75 schools she contacted, Hayford said, 18 districts requested cords. Most of those schools were from Lenawee County, she said.

Hayford said she also set a goal of making and sending out 100 cords. Through donations received for the materials, Hayford said she was able to send 110 cords.

Schools that received cords this year included Adrian, Sand Creek, Blissfield, Tecumseh, Addison and Britton Deerfield high schools; Adrian College; and, regionally, Whiteford, Summerfield and Monroe high schools.

Hayford said she is applying for nonprofit status and welcomes donations at cordsacrossamerica.com to potentially increase the number of cords distributed in 2019 to 500.

“It’s been a really great thing to see this grow,” Hayford said.

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